Exploring the Runes

The Elder Futhark is the oldest rune alphabet, with inscriptions dating back to 150CE. It is the most commonly used rune set and contains 24 runes. Each rune has its own set of magical correspondences. My pages about the Elder Futhark include many rune correspondences but their primary function is to provide you with insights, ideas and inspiration for the development of your own rune practice.

Fehu: the first rune

Uruz: the second rune

Thurisaz: the third rune

Ansuz: the fourth rune

Raidho: the fifth rune

Kenaz: the sixth rune

Gebo: the seventh rune

Wunjo: the eighth rune

Hagalaz: the ninth rune

Nauthiz: the tenth rune

Isa: the eleventh rune

Jera: the twelfth rune

Eihwaz: the thirteenth rune

Perthro: the fourteenth rune

Algiz: the fifteenth rune

Sowilo: the sixteenth rune

Teiwaz: the seventeenth rune

Berkano: the eighteenth rune

Ehwaz: the nineteenth rune

Mannaz: the twentieth rune

Laguz: the twenty-first rune

Inguz: the twenty-second rune

Dagaz: the twenty-third/ twenty-fourth rune

Othala: the twenty-fourth/twenty-third rune

‘Futhark’ is the literal equivalent of the word ‘Alphabet’, the latter being a combination of Alpha and Beta, and the former being a combination of Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raidho and Kenaz (the first five letters of the Elder Futhark).

The runes are divided into aettir which means ‘family’; there are three rune families with eight runes in each, each family is known as an aett.

Second Aett

Third Aett

Wyrd is not a rune in the traditional Elder Futhark but many modern sets include it. The Wyrd rune is sometimes said to appear in a reading when you are not meant to know the answer; at other times it is said to contain the energies of all the runes within it. Yet others claim the Wyrd rune is simply a spare.